Determined veteran Mr. Disrespectful eyes first stakes win in Unusual Heat

Mr. Disrepectful, the veteran gelding, tends to earn his wins.

In allowance races for statebreds on turf at Del Mar in Nov. 30 and at Santa Anita on Dec. 29, Mr. Disrespectful overcame troubled trips to win as a favorite. He won by a nose at Del Mar and by 3 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita.

The determination could lead to the 6-year-old’s first stakes win in the $175,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday.

“He’s got himself in a little bit of trouble and he’s overcome it,” trainer Craig Dollase said on Thursday. “He’s been a very consistent runner.

“He’s been a nice addition to my barn.”

A winner of 5 of 17 starts, Mr. Disrespectful was switched from Martin Valenzuela to Dollase by owner Mojarro Racing in the fall. Dollase is Mr. Disrespectful’s fourth trainer.

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Mr. Disrespectful, who starts from post 2, will be ridden by Hector Berrios, who was aboard for the two recent wins. Dollase envisions a forward trip for Mr. Disrespectful, who has never raced at 1 1/8 miles.

“We’ll be saving ground,” Dollase said. “He rates kindly. I don’t think a mile and an eighth will be problem. He could be on the lead.”

Recent success aside, Mr. Disrespectful had a rough first race for Dollase.

At Del Mar on Nov. 16, Mr. Disrespectful hopped at the start when the gates opened, unseating jockey Juan Hernandez. Mr. Disrespectful, the 3-2 favorite, was ruled a starter by the stewards after an inquiry.

The Unusual Heat Turf Classic, the leading race for older horses among five stakes for statebreds at Santa Anita on Saturday, is Mr. Disrespectful’s third appearance in a stakes. For Valenzuela last summer, Mr. Disrespectful was second in the Bertrando Stakes at a mile on dirt at Los Alamitos in June and fifth in the California Dreamin’ Stakes on turf at Del Mar in August.

Mr. Disrespectful was beaten in those races by Kings River Knight, the winner of the 2024 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, who was retired last year.

In Saturday’s race, Mr. Disrespectful is part of a field of seven that includes Vodka Vodka, who was fourth in the Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr., Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 28; the multiple stakes winner None Above the Law; and the filly Hey Jessie.

Hey Jessie is also entered in Monday’s $100,000 Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf, but will start on Saturday, trainer Sean McCarthy said on Friday.

Hey Jessie was eighth in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 23.

“We were too far back off a slow pace,” McCarthy said.

Saturday’s distance will not be an issue for Hey Jessie. She won an allowance race at 1 1/4 miles on turf for fillies and mares at Santa Anita in October. Saturday’s race is her 10th race and first start against males.

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